In a bold move that’s sure to spark debate, Greenpeace activists in Paris orchestrated a dramatic protest against France’s ongoing business ties with Russia. Their target? A wax figure of President Emmanuel Macron, which they ‘borrowed’ from the Grévin Museum.
The activists, who entered the museum disguised as ordinary visitors, swiftly snatched the Macron waxwork, cleverly concealing it under a blanket before making a daring escape. A Greenpeace spokesperson confirmed the operation was meticulously planned to ensure a swift and smooth execution, with no confrontation with museum security.
Greenpeace France issued a statement explaining their actions, highlighting the continued lucrative contracts between France and Russia in gas, chemical fertilizers, and nuclear power. They argue that these ongoing business dealings directly fund Russia’s war in Ukraine, contradicting Macron’s public pronouncements of solidarity with the embattled nation. The statement emphasized that France’s dependence on Russian resources undermines efforts to achieve peace and strengthen European strategic sovereignty.
Following the daring heist, the Macron wax figure reappeared in a surprising location: outside the Russian embassy in Paris. Accompanied by several protesters, the statue served as a powerful visual representation of Greenpeace’s message. While the organization intends to return the waxwork to the Grévin Museum, the timing remains unclear.
The incident has left the Grévin Museum and President Macron’s office seeking comment. Authorities have yet to make any arrests. The stolen wax figure, reportedly valued at €40,000 ($45,674), remains unrecovered.
This audacious act of protest comes amidst ongoing international efforts to broker a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, now in its fourth year. While Macron, alongside other European leaders, has been actively involved in peace negotiations, critics point to France’s significant imports of liquefied natural gas from Russia as a troubling inconsistency. Independent research from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) reveals that France is among the top importers of Russian LNG, contributing significantly to Russia’s massive fossil fuel export revenue since the invasion began in 2022.
Jean-Francois Julliard, director of Greenpeace France, articulated the organization’s stance, stating that supporting Ukraine while simultaneously importing vast quantities of Russian gas, fertilizers, and uranium is simply untenable. The incident shines a spotlight on the complex ethical and political dilemmas faced by European nations attempting to balance their support for Ukraine with their own economic interests. The Macron waxwork heist serves as a striking symbol of this ongoing tension.
